While I agree with you that we should not impose our religious views upon others, I have to disagree with you strongly about those to whom you refer, in the context of Goanet, as the lunatics on the fringe who are brain-washed. I am afraid it sounds a bit like home-spun philosophy rather than informed thought.
Let me humbly suggest that any 'brain-washing' in any religion largely stems
from one's earliest socialisation in the family. This is aimed to capture the individual for life when there can be the least resistance. However, later on, some choose to examine these early teachings, and then, in all sincerity, question their earlier learning. This secondary stage of development cannot possibly be termed as brain-washing except in rare cases perhaps as with intense involvement with some cults. Thus, some individuals choose to be 'reconverted' to a different religion, sets of ideas, beliefs, and become humanists, agnostics, atheists or whatever. Yet others will become more intensely drawn into their original faith/religion.
For those who have sincere doubts about any religion which was infused into them in early childhood, let us respect them as thinkers rather than as brain-washed individuals which they are definitely not. Often, their departure is from the faith they first had inculcated into them in early chilhood and which was not taken by them through personal choice. Thus, it is not surprising that those brought up as Catholics may start questioning this faith first just as Mormons, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and others also do so. The available literature on this topic is replete with lots of examples of such deep questioning of received wisdom and religion.
Finally, to those others who wish to put a stop to the on-going discussion on religion on Goanet, please note that the Goanet admin team have had such requests made to them on several other topics before. Thankfully, the admin team has listened to earlier arguments on the wisdom, of not arbitrarily ending discussion while in full swing, and thus not succumbing to this easy option.
Invariably, most discussions on Goanet end when they run out of steam as one can note in the archives. So too, at a touch of a button, one can avoid reading unappealing posts which have clear headings provided.
Religion and politics are topics which particularly engender endless debate
especially in intellectual circles. Such discussions are invariably "meat"
to some but "poison" to others. However, to my mind, in most instances, they tend to be stimulating and educative. Clearly, there is a certain inevitability that there will be some intrusion into other people's religious or political sensitivities but such is the nature of all discourse engaged by human beings from time immemorial.
Cornel DaCosta, London, UK.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Vivian D'Souza"
Subject: [Goanet]Catholics !
Some call themselves Cafeteria Catholics. These are probably
people who rationalize and use their God-given senses to make sense of what is spouted by brain-washed lunatics.
